Boreal+Forest



__**About **__ Also known as “taiga,” the boreal forest is one of the largest biome in the world. It stretches all across Eurasia and North America. It also seems to be associated with the summertime arctic airmass, constituting the air, winds, and overall climate. If you look at the biome overall, it can be seen lying between the summer and winter positions of the arctic front. "Taiga," also a Russian word, describes the swampy nature of the incredible forest. While it may be one of the biggest biomes to exist, living there isn't the easiest thing to do since experiencing coldness and food shortages are normal, especially during the winter. The seasons consist of long, harsh winters to short, hot summers; experiencing spring and autumn is rare. Many of the animals here hibernate during the winter, various species of birds will migrate and return in the summer, and others learn to adapt. What characterizes this biome to be one of the greatest is its critical role in the atmosphere: producing and storing carbon. Its wetlands will filter gallons of water each day, including being home to an abundance of other water bodies.



__**Flora **__

Due to the harsh conditions of the weather, there aren't many plants species that can withstand the obstacles. Yes, while the boreal forest is home to innumerable plant species, the most common ones are coniferous trees. Coniferous trees include firs, pines, spruces, hemlocks, and douglas firs. Characteristics such as having long, waxy needles enable these trees to withstand the cold and also protect itself from the harsh winds and snow that engulfs their surroundings. These trees are also known to be able not to freeze, and they're not susceptible to losing their leaves. The trees are also able to keep their needles which allows them to continue vital processes such as photosynthesis once the weather warms up and absorb sunlight. Trees in the taiga usually grow close to one another as a way to fight the cold. Other qualities include:
 * Being conical shaped aids the shedding of snow and reduces the loss of branches.
 * Being a Needleleaf means that its narrowness reduces surface area where water may be transpired during the winter due to the frozen ground that prevents plants from having a sufficient water supply.
 * With the needles being a dark color, it allows the foliage to absorb an abundance amount of sunlight and begin photosynthesis

In addition to the trees, mosses and lichens are also present and serve as important organisms in the biome because they're the source of food for many animals there.



__**Fauna **__

The boreal forest is home to a variety of animal species. Carnivores and main predators include the lynx, bobcats, Siberian tigers, wolves, and black bears. Herbivores include elk, snowshoe hares, red squirrels, and porcupines. Lastly, many insect-eating birds fly to the taiga to breed and find food and will leave once breeding season is over or when the winter comes. Birds species include wood warblers, finches, sparrows, ravens, even owls tend to be year-round residents, while others like the red crossbill, evening grosbeak, and pine siskin will leave.



__**Seasonal Temperatures: **__
 * || Highest || Lowest ||
 * Winter || 30°F || -65°F ||
 * Summer || 70°F || 30°F ||
 * Annual || 23°F || 41°F ||

__**Seasonal Precipitation: **__  The Boreal forest has very broad climates and precipitation that varies throughout the c hanging seasons. During the winters, it could be from 30 degrees to -65 degrees. During the summers, the temperature can be from 70 degrees to 30 degrees. The annual temperature ranges from 23 degrees to 41 degrees, as evident the temperature in the Boreal forest is quite cool. As for the precipitation, the average of rain in the Boreal forest can range from 20 cm to 200 cm. The climate and precipitation is the perfect living environment for animals with thick fur, like the snowshoe hare that changes the color of its coat according to climate change and the elk.
 * Lowest || Highest ||
 * 20cm || 200cm ||


 * __Human Impact: __**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The Boreal Forest has faced many difficulties, from the industrial development such as logging, mining, oil and gas development etc. These human activities cause pollution in the natural habitat, contaminating the wilderness and causing drastic changes to the water and air. Along with this, the industrial development causes global warming, harming the Boreal Forest, along with other regions on Earth. Logging also contributes to the damage of the Boreal Forest, creating loss of habitat for the animals whom dwell there.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Other contributors to the decimation of the Boreal Forest are mining and the search and hunt for oil and gas. There have been 88,000 oil and gas well sites, with more planned for the future. The constant digging and clearing of the forest for oil causes animal extinction and pollution. Mining also comes to aid in the destruction of the natural biome. Mining may only require a small territory, but the business brings with it waste and creation of roads and seismic lines: destroying homes of hundreds of animals.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">These contributions harm the habitat with pollution and industrialization, and put many animals in danger of extinction.

__**<span style="font-family: Century,serif;">Bibliography **__
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